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Big Time Grain Co. to Play for Cooper

WICHITA, Kan., April 7, 2016 /CNW/ -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA), Meritrust Credit Union and Spirit AeroSystems are partnering to host the 25th Wichita Tour de Cure Saturday, April 30. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the event, Wichita is riding with 5-year-old Cooper, who was diagnosed at eight months old as the youngest known case of type 1 diabetes in Kansas. The Tour de Cure is a fundraising event held nationwide to benefit the ADA.

The Wichita Tour de Cure will feature a 100k, 50k and 25k ride, as well as a 5k walk and family ride. Rides are open to company teams, individuals and families. Riders must register with the ADA in advance. Meritrust Credit Union is the premier sponsor of this year's tour.

The 2016 event will be bigger than ever. Besides the ride and walk, the Tour de Cure will offer a day of family activities including a Fitness Expo, Kid's Zone, entertainment with Greg "the Hitman" Williams of Power 93.5, food for sale and a concert by Big Time Grain Company, a Kansas City country band which opened for Big & Rich, Restless Heart, Gary Allan and more. You can find out more about the Big Time Grain Company at their website, www.bigtimegrain.com.

The Fitness Expo will offer a variety of businesses and professional groups who can assist with fitness goals, healthy eating regimens and resources to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Many vendors will offer free sample giveaways to take home, and there will be several raffle drawings for prizes.

Spirit AeroSystems will once again host the event at its employment center at 31st Street and S. Oliver. Parking is free. Please register to participate in the event or donate to the ADA to attend.

"Meritrust is proud to partner with Spirit AeroSystems and the American Diabetes Association to bring this event to the Wichita community," says 2016 Tour de Cure Campaign Chairman and Meritrust President/CEO James Nastars. "Many Kansans have been diagnosed with diabetes or personally know someone affected by it. We're honored to be a part of the cause and ride in support of the more than 272,000 Kansans diagnosed."

The Wichita community has recruited over 500 riders and walkers for the 2016 event, and participants have already raised over $300,000 to benefit the ADA. Funds raised at the Tour de Cure event support diabetes research, advocacy and education, as well as provide summer camp programs for hundreds of children in Wichita and throughout Kansas. ADA's day camp, Camp Sweet Betes and its residential camp, Camp Discovery educate youth affected by diabetes while allowing them to enjoy a traditional summer camp experience.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities.

About Meritrust.

Meritrust Credit Union is the leading and largest Kansas-chartered community credit union with 84,000 members and $1.148 billion in assets. Meritrust is open to the public with 15 branches in metro-Wichita, Junction City, Lawrence and Manhattan, Kansas. In 2012, Meritrust was ranked third in the nation in the Callahan & Associates Return of the Member Index and was recognized by SNL Financial as one of the top 20 best performing credit unions in the nation, among credit unions with total assets of more than $500 million. With a mission of improving the lives of members and the communities it serves, Meritrust offers members the products, services and tools they need to achieve their financial goals with confidence. For more information, visit meritrustcu.org.

About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world's largest independent producers of large aerostructures. Its core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components. Spirit has long-term agreements in place with its largest customers, Boeing and Airbus. Other customers include Bombardier, Rolls Royce, Mitsubishi, Sikorsky, and Bell Helicopter. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, and Malaysia. Spirit also provides aftermarket customer support, including MRO, spare parts, and engineering services in North America, Europe, and Asia.